Hosea 3:2

וָאֶכְּרֶ֣הָ לִּ֔י בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר כָּ֑סֶף וְחֹ֥מֶר שְׂעֹרִ֖ים וְלֵ֥תֶךְ שְׂעֹרִֽים׃

So I purchased her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver, and a ḥomer of barley and a lethekh of barley.

Morphology

1. וָאֶכְּרֶהָ (vaʾekrehah) – Root: כרה (k-r-h); Form: Qal imperfect 1cs with conjunction וָ (converted imperfect) + 3fs suffix; Translation: “and I purchased her”; Notes: The verb here likely refers to “buying” or “hiring” in the sense of redeeming — Hosea symbolically redeems his wife, representing YHWH’s act of reclaiming Yisraʾel.
2. לִּי (li) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + first cs suffix; Translation: “for myself”; Notes: Denotes personal possession or dedication — Hosea’s symbolic marriage portrays YHWH’s personal covenantal claim over His people.
3. בַּחֲמִשָּׁה (ba-ḥamishah) – Root: חמשׁ (ḥ-m-š); Form: Preposition בְּ + cardinal number masculine singular; Translation: “for fifteen”; Notes: Specifies the price — fifteen pieces, an incomplete number symbolizing partial redemption.
4. עָשָׂר (ʿasar) – Root: עשר (ʿ-š-r); Form: Numeral masculine singular construct; Translation: “(of) ten”; Notes: Completes the number fifteen (“five and ten”) in Hebrew enumeration.
5. כָּסֶף (kasef) – Root: כסף (k-s-p); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “silver”; Notes: Denotes currency or payment; metaphorically represents the costly nature of redemption.
6. וְחֹמֶר (ve-ḥomer) – Root: חמר (ḥ-m-r); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and a ḥomer”; Notes: A dry measure (approx. 220 liters), indicating a substantial quantity — symbolic of material provision and atonement.
7. שְׂעֹרִים (seʿorim) – Root: שער (s-ʿ-r); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “barley”; Notes: Barley was the grain of the poor and often used for offerings — emphasizes humility and redemption of the destitute.
8. וְלֵתֶךְ (ve-lethekh) – Root: לתך (l-t-k); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and a lethekh”; Notes: A unit equal to half a ḥomer; the combined measures indicate completeness — a full 1½ ḥomers of barley.
9. שְׂעֹרִים (seʿorim) – Root: שער (s-ʿ-r); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “barley”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis — symbolizing provision and faithfulness. Hosea’s purchase signifies both economic cost and emotional covenant renewal between YHWH and Yisraʾel.